Pelargonium plant named ‘Duegboflav’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Ivy Geranium plant named ‘Duegboflav’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; freely flowering habit; large lavender-colored double flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium peltatum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUEGBOFLAV’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of IvyGeranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium peltatum, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duegboflav’.

The new Ivy Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new vigorous Ivy Geranium plants withnumerous attractive flowers.

The new Ivy Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in July, 2008 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietaryselection of Pelargonium peltatum identified as code numberP20-3935-003, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Pelargonium peltatum identified as code numberP99-0609-012, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new IvyGeranium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a singleflowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollinationin a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May,2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Ivy Geranium plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg,Germany since June, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this newIvy Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Duegboflav’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Duegboflav’ as a new and distinct Ivy Geraniumplant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely basal branching habit.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large lavender-colored double flowers.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parentselection have blue-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in growth habit as plants of the new Ivy Geranium aremore vigorous than plants of the male parent selection. In addition,plants of the new Ivy Geranium and the male parent selection differ inflower color as plants of the male parent selection haveburgundy-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium can be compared to plants of Pelargoniumpeltatum ‘Royal Blue’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the new Ivy Geranium differedprimarily from plants of ‘Royal Blue’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium were larger than plants of        ‘Royal Blue’.    -   2. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium had narrower leaves than        plants of ‘Royal Blue’.    -   3. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium were more freely flowering        than plants of ‘Royal Blue’.    -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Ivy Geranium were double types        whereas flowers of ‘Royal Blue’ were semi-double types.    -   5. Flowers of plants of the new Ivy Geranium were lighter in        color than flowers of plants of ‘Royal Blue’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Ivy Geranium plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Ivy Geranium plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical floweringplant of ‘Duegboflav’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the summer in 12-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Pelargonium production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. andlight levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time threeweeks after planting and were 13 weeks old when the photograph and thedescription were taken. In the detailed description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium peltatum ‘Duegboflav’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Pelargonium peltatum identified as code number P20-3935-003,            not patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium            peltatum identified as code number P99-0609-012, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading plant            habit; uniformly rounded; densely foliated; vigorous growth            habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching habit with about            nine basal branches developing per plant.        -   Plant height to top of flower umbels.—About 39.5 cm.        -   Plant height to top of foliar plane.—About 31 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 42 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 16.3 cm. Diameter: About            5 mm. Internode length: About 2.3 cm. Texture: Pubescent.            Strength: Moderately strong. Color: Close to 144A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 3.7 cm.        -   Width.—About 6.2 cm; sinus depth, up to about 1.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Roughly reniform; palmately lobed.        -   Apex.—Lobe apices, acute.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Pubescent.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 137A; venation, close to 137A. Developing and fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A; venation,            close to 144A. Zonation pattern: Distance from margin: About            1.5 cm. Width: About 1.6 mm. Color: Close to 147A. Petioles:            Length: About 5.6 cm. Diameter: About 2.1 mm. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Double type flowers arranged in rounded            hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils; umbels            displayed above the foliar plane on moderately strong            peduncles; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit, about nine to            eleven flowers per umbel and potentially about 18 flower            umbels developing per plant.        -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions; in            outdoor nurseries and gardens in Germany, flowering is            continuous from spring throughout the summer until the            autumn; plants begin to flower about eight weeks after            planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to            seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Umbel height.—About 5.1 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 6.8 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4.4 cm by 4.2 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.6 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 7.2 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 2.4 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm. Shape:            Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 75A;            venation, close to 81B. When opening and fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 75C; venation, close to 81D.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About 24 to 25 arranged in            several whorls. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 8.3 mm.            Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 75A. When opening and fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 75C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About 4.2 mm. Shape:            Ensiform. Apex: Apiculate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 144A.        -   Peduncles (umbel stems).—Length: About 11.4 cm. Diameter:            About 3 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Pedicels (individual flower stems).—Length: About 2.1 cm.            Diameter: About 1.4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            None to three. Filament length: About 1.2 cm. Filament            color: Close to 155A. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther            shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 165B. Pollen amount:            Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil            quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Stigma            shape: Crested. Stigma color: Close to 63A. Style length:            About 2 mm. Style color: Close to 63B. Ovary color: Close to            191B.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Ivy Geranium.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Ivy    Geranium plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have been    observed have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind,    and temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Ivy Geranium plant named‘Duegboflav’ as illustrated and described.